Inspired by a conversation with the elders of my family on Thanksgiving/Indigenous Peoples Day. Faced with the responsibility of assuming the role of Elder in order to continue family traditions is something I hope we all live long enough to experience. It’s a crossroad, especially if you live in a different city or country.

An Elder is a revered figure whom we look to for wisdom. Elder-ly speaks to one’s physical condition. Sometimes those are different. Sometimes those are the same. It almost feels like you disappear a little at a time as you age until you become invisible. Ageism is real and operates on a spectrum. My solution is to befriend and nurture friendships and relationships with folks half my age and twice my age and have gatherings where we occupy the same space. I don’t know if it’s working but it’s the best I got.